DAILY PICS VOL. 105

This morning I encountered a Black-capped Chickadee collecting nesting material. It repeatedly returning to a pile of dog hair and carried the hair to a hole, in the side of an old stump.

How cute! I just love the Chickadees!

Nice pic Gary!

I'm so excited-I was working in my garden this morning and thought I heard an oriole-sure enough, he showed up for a snack awhile later. Not the greatest photo . . .

And yes, I know I shouldn't use the colored nectar, but I always do first thing in the spring just to get their attention. I use plain sugar water after they find me. Don't yell at me . . .

Congratulations on the oriole DMurray! I won't yell at you. Although I don't use colored nectar. I don't believe in dogging others that do.

LOL, No one will yell at you except to say Congratulations!!!!!

This is such a great thread, with wonderful pictures of some of my very favorite birds. It's not just the beauty of some of these birds, but the fact that they never or rarely visit my own backyard. I'm really jealous of your Red-breasted Grosbeaks, Mrs Ed. Although I've seen Grosbeaks in my own yard once or twice, most of the ones I've seen were at the local nature center, which is the only place I've ever seen the beautiful Indigo Buntings. I still remember the excitement of going to my bird books to try to identify the first two Brown Thrashers that ever made an appearance. I don't think they've been back since.

With the assistance of a birding expert I have ID'd Baltimore Orioles while on a bird hike, but if I've ever had any visits to my yard, I wasn't around to see them. I did try putting jelly out once in hopes of luring some, but I discontinued that after attracting a slew of hornets instead.

Thanks for your input re my Cooper's Hawk, Resin.

As for my Dave's Garden membership, Pelletory, my first year will be up on May 27th. I'm so sorry now that I didn't take advantage of it earlier. I'll just have to be very, very active in the next few weeks to make up for all that lost time.

The catbird on my birdbath visited last Sunday. I don't get catbirds very often, and I was concerned that this one allowed me to get as close to it as it did. A few years back I rescued a catbird from a roaming neighborhood cat. Unfortunately he didn't survive the attack.

I love catbirds-I hope mine come around soon. They are another bird that comes to the grape jelly feeder in my yard. Actually, after I started putting it out for the orioles, I've been really suprised at the number of other birds who like to eat it. I get catbirds, robins and woodpeckers at my GJ feeders. I wonder where the orioles will nest this year-they've had a nest in my neighbor's maple tree for the 6 years we've lived in this house but the neighbors really "pruned" back their tree last summer and the oriole nest came down. I almost cried. It was a gorgeous tree and now it's a stump with a few twigs coming out of the top. I suppose it will eventually look good again, but I think they were a little too aggressive with the pruning.

Wonderful pic thyme!

D, that is a sad story! I hope it does grow back!

We having the same dark rainy weather Rose has been having.

Heres a male American Goldfinch at the upside down feeder. I think their tootsies are so cute hanging on there.

Great pic Pell, and Rose, that adult Oriole pic is super! What a stunning bird.

Thanks GP...the Orioles are everywhere making for lots of chances to get a shot! (and it helps to have oranges and jelly below the tree they land on)!

Pelle..Love that shot and I agree they are just so darned cute hanging like that! The rain will not really quit here for another week. If the sun doesn't shine soon I fear I will go mad!! LOL!

A Black-headed Grosbeak touching down.

Fantastic pics everyone! :-)

Marilyn

I went on nest patrol tonight. Found 2 new ones. This is, I believe, a blue jay nest. There was one hanging around, and the eggs look right. I think there are 3 eggs. It's in the middle of a very spiky juniper type tree so it was a bit of a trick to get a good photo. I'll be excited to see the progress.
Claire

Here's my 2nd new nest - it's a chipping sparrow nest. I've noticed them hanging around my smaller juniper shrub, and sure enough, I found the reason!

Thats so exciting Claire!

I'll have to go check out my Juniper tomorrow!

I think they're a favorite because they're really dense foliage. I hope you find something in yours, Pelle!

Well, just yesterday I took pictures of a new bird to me, which Nanny56 and Resin helped me ID as a grey catbird. I found it really tough to get pictures of it because it was very elusive in the woods. This morning, I heard an almighty thunk on one of my front windows and rushed to see what had hit it. I believe it was this grey catbird. Made me feel really bad - she sat in the tree for a very long time. Nothing like her behaviour last night, moving every 3 seconds. The only good side was, I managed to get a decent picture! Anyway, do others find those spider web decals work well for deterring window hits?

I guess she decided she liked having her photo taken after all - she came in for some close ups!

Catbird trying to pretend it's a woodpecker...

LOL, funny pic. I wish mine would come to the feeders, like I see that some other people's are. They really are very pretty.

Put out some jelly! Nanny says hers are going crazy for it.

One more picture of one of my male Red-breasted Grosbeak. I got a new feeder for them. I found them at it this morning but flew off. Now they are being shy again. But I'm sure they'll get back to it for some close ups.

I've got jelly, oranges, apples, raisins, dried cherries and blueberries out, boo hoo, and they're not coming :-( I have seen the Orioles eating the cherries though, that was after it had rained on them and they had plumped up. Ironically, the only thing I've seen eating the grape jelly this year is a Rb Woodpecker. Last year the Orioles and WPs ate it, the Orioles are fixated on oranges this year and costing a fortune!!

Beautiful pic of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak!!!

This message was edited May 9, 2008 10:11 AM

Great pics of the grosbeak and the woodpecker! I think I need a better zoom on my camera! I think I also need to get a jelly feeder!

Ha. That's funny. your jelly is being rejected! Fickle birds.

Well right after I posted, one of the younger males decided to visit the new feeder.

And here is a closer up. Note the breast is still getting color. I think I have two first year males and one older.

Clair, my grosbeaks are only 10 feet from the window! That's the only way I can get closeups! I have a 200 mm lens on the dslr, and a 10X zoom on the point and shoot!

I've got a 1st year male and 1 mature, my 1st year is a lot rattier looking, LOL! Take a look at this homely fellow

haha. he is a bit ratty. Well I was only thinking I had first year males because they still have the brown back feathers. *shrug*

Claire...congrats on the new Catbird...I still haven't seen one here but they must be out there!

Sadie...Great shots of the RB Grosbeak and RB Woodpecker...I haven't witnessed them eating the jelly yet but they sure are frisky lately and I finally have a female RB Woodpecker.

Mrs. Ed...Awesome shots of the Grosbeaks and I love your new feeding set up.

Adel...Very cool shot!

We still have many Goldfinches to eat and entertain!

The Blue Jays have found the new feeding spot I set up for taking pics!

so have the White Crowned Sparrow...they are still abundant here but I heard they usually leave around the middle of May. I will certainly miss their singing. It warms my heart to hear them.

This female Rose-breasted Grosbeak has also found the new feeding area and landed in the tree just above. Sorry the pic is so dark...I am slowly going mad from lack of sunlight! Uggggg...LOL!

nice rose! My white throated and white crowned sparrows have already moved on. AS did the cute little Lincoln's sparrow. But then came the RB Grosbeaks!

Still no new hummers. Only the two that have left.

Here is a poor pic of an American Redstart...a first for me! I hope I get another chance to see her and also the more colorful male.

Thanks Mrs. Ed...I notice we still have some White Throated in the woody areas and I hope the hummers are here to stay. They seem to have set up their territory and are guarding with a vengence!!

Beautiful pics Rose!

I still have 1 White-crowned Sparrow coming around the feeders but I think most have moved on. I've never seen an American Redstart, thanks for posting it, maybe I'll get lucky!

Saw 2 catbirds in the shrubs where they usually hang out this morning. So they are back. The winter feeders usually come down mid-April so I have to learn to use my ears again. Cardinal very noisy, they like to nest in our neighbors conifers. Have not seen or heard towhees for yrs. so very glad to see the reports of them.

Saw a Hummingbird being chased by a Blackbird this morning, later I'm pretty sure I saw two hummers chasing each other. Here's a Grackle trying to impress.

Cardinal eating a berry.